SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

Juan Román Riquelme was one of the players slated to make a move during the recently closed winter transfer window, but the out-of-favour Villarreal playmaker is staying at the Castellón de la Plana club, although against the wishes of the Coach, President and a growing number of his team-mates...http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=224645

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Yeah, so Theo didn't get his first goal. Oh well. It was Denilson who stole the show as far as I'm concerned. Diaby had some excellent moments but my Man of the Match goes to the Brazilian. He had some key midfield interceptions and a few stinging shots. Very impressive. And Arsene says he'll stick with the young guns in the final versus Chelsea. Fantastic. That'll be a doozy.

The only downside to this match was the bitching and moaning of one Robbie Keene. What a wanker.

And so, once again, Spurs’ lofty ambitions are undone by their fierce rivals. Having not beaten Arsenal for 17 matches previously, and near the 20th anniversary of the Gunners’ famous win over Spurs in the League Cup semi-final in 1987, what else did Tottenham fans expect?

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

How shite are Spurs and their fans going to feel if they lose tonight to a second-stringArsenal squad? The Gunner youngsters have made what is usually a boringcompetition into an exciting affair this season. Over the years I usually pull for my teamto get eliminated early to alleviate fixture congestion. But this season it’s been different. OK< so the Gunner team will be sprinkled with experience (Gilberto will return) but you get the idea.

And Theo Walcott. So he’s not scoring. It’s OK. If Wenger says it’ll come, it’ll come. Yes, he is still 17 and Arsene says he’s finishing impressively in training. I trust the Boss. He's said things like this millions of times in the past and been correct 76.4% of the time. I like the odds. While I’m on the subject of Arsenal, I’m glad to see Song go. He can stink it up forPardew now. Some people say he was good against Liverpool but I beg to differ. He stilllooked lost and his goal bounced in off his body. He knew nothing of it. I also wonderabout Birmingham getting Larsson for £1 million. I hope there is more cash than thatinvolved, especially when you see the likes of Darren Bent and £18 million being thrownabout. Larsson is lighting up the Championship and that’s a nice take by Steve Bruce.

Speaking of the Championship, come on Derby! The Rams just keep notching the winsand have managed to keep themselves above Birmingham in the table. It’d be great tosee Premiership football back at Pride Park next year. My wife could bust out the Rammy panties that have been in the drawer since 1997.

Let’s see. What else is up? Oh yes, Bayern Munich fired Felix Magath and brought backOttmar Hitzfeld. I can’t really see this making too much of a difference in Munich. There are too many good teams at the top and it’s not like the old days when Bayerncould just buy their competitors' top players. There is much more parity now. They arethin and the loss of Ballack has really hurt. Their Champions League match-up with RealMadrid should prove interesting. Which out of form giant will lose? My bet is on theGermans. There has been a real shift in the Bundesliga and I don’t know if Bayern willever command the respect or enjoy the dominance it once had. In other words, at least one European Giant has fallen and will not be back like some others (Juve, Milan).

Ahh yes, Sir Wayne is scoring again. Shrek has bagged a couple of late to put all the talkof his lack of goals behind him. Did any of us really think it was an issue? Of course themedia needed a story so they made it one, but come on. ManU are top of the table andRooney's form has been fine. So few goals? Not an issue. An issue would be if Ronaldogoes down. No, like, goes down for real. As in actually gets injured. I think that couldput a big thorn in the Red Devils. That’s why the return of Park is so important. Heprovides the same sort of width and pace as Ronaldo. If something were to happen to theDiving Master, Sir Alex would have back-up. I think it’ll be a tight run to the finish, butManU have too much of an advantage. The real fun will be the battle for second. I stilldon’t trust Liverpool or Arsenal to become consistent enough to make a real run for the top. Stevie G. tells us his boys are ready but we’ve heard that before. No, I see it finishing like this:

Manchester UnitedChelseaArsenalLiverpool

No surprises there.

That’s all the time I’ve got at the moment. Time to tie up some loose ends so I can go home, grab the dog, and head out to see Tottenham travel to the Emirates. And then it'll be time to see Theo's first goal for The Gunners. Who knew the League Cup could be so much fun?

Sheffield United have given their survival hopes a massive boost with a 2-0 win at home to Fulham on an evening when the two teams below them both lost as West Ham lost at home to Liverpool and Wigan were beaten at high-flying Reading.

There is a lot riding on Javier Mascherano’s proposed loan transfer to Liverpool; far more than the Premiership career of one player. There is the judgment of Alan Pardew, the reputation of Alan Curbishley, indeed the general ability of what we would style the bread-and-butter English managers to be at home at the high end of the modern game.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Martin O'Neill scored the best deal of the month the is the other day by unloading one-hit wonder Milan Baros and getting an excellent target man in John Carew in return. I've always been impressed with Carew-- he can hold it up well, has excellent vision and scores plenty. I'm eager to see how he'll fare at Villa but as the transfer window begins to close, I'd have to say that it's Martin who wins the prize of best move within the window. Carew is no one-hit wonder and for that matter, neither is Cafu. This other guy, though...

So Phil Ball is an Englishman living in Spain. And he lives in San Sabastian. Trouble is, the team he supports in San Sabastian (Real Sociedad) is not doing so hot this year. Relegation looms... -Sanford

I'm pleased for the Pit Bull. He made the correct decision going back to Amsterdam. I mean, would you rather play at FC Dallas or Ajax? Granted Dallas does boast the brand spanking new Pizza Hut Park, but come on! Dallas or Amsterdam? Holland or Texas? Think of the sweat that would build up under those goggles in 100+ degree heat. Of course, there is no Walker Texas Ranger in Amsterdam... -Sanford

MADRID, Jan 29 (Reuters) - David Beckham will be worth every cent of his multi-million dollar move to Los Angeles Galaxy, according to club president Alexi Lalas.

The 31-year-old midfielder has agreed a switch from Real Madrid to the Major League Soccer (MLS) side from the end of this season, on a five-year deal worth $250 million including bonuses and endorsements.

After so many years of Inter being the annual underachiever, the Nerazzurri have had plenty to smile about this season due to their on-field success. A new scandal, though, threatens to take it all away...